An aged care advocate has warned the horror stories, including deaths, which have come out of facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic have left people afraid of ending up in the sector.
Maria Berry, who lives in Huon in Victoria's north-east and was a carer for her elderly parents, said she was being told people were "really quite frightened" about what had occurred.
"I think COVID has certainly highlighted what's happened," Ms Berry said.
"But also, our Aged Care Royal Commission has highlighted what is actually happening behind closed doors."
Ms Berry said while many providers were working hard to provide care, transparency was an issue.
"We're not transparent with our regulations, people are just not aware of what happens," she said.
It comes as a Productivity Commission report on government services found, for thousands of older Australians, the average wait time for approved Level 4 Home Care packages in 2018–20 was 28 months.
Waiting periods for a Level 1 package were approximately six months, 14 months for Level 2 and 18 months for Level 3.
Providing more Home Care Packages to reduce the waiting list for higher-level at-home care is one of the royal commission's key recommendations.
The final report is due to be handed down next month.
| Package | Care needs | Annual subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basic | $8,845 |
| 2 | Low | $15,562 |
| 3 | Intermediate | $33,866 |
| 4 | High | $51,335 |
"We've also got staff shortages as well across Australia," Ms Berry said.
"Attracting people to the industry [is difficult] — it's a really tough industry to work in at the moment and it's not well respected or recognised and it's not very well paid."
Inadequate staff training
Ms Berry is also concerned about the training being provided to those entering the aged care industry.
"The majority of people that are going into aged care homes, they have really high care needs," Ms Berry said.
She said many with loved ones in aged care were too scared to speak out.
"'I'm too afraid to say anything in case there are repercussions for Mum or Dad' — that's quite a common comment I'm hearing," Ms Berry said.
"People assume it's a consumer-driven market and you've got plenty of choices out there. We do not.
"It's the fees. It is not regulated. The fees that are drawn out of that Home Care Package are not giving the person, the consumer, more services they need."
'A disgrace'
Beechworth's Christine Stewart is a carer for her husband and agrees the pandemic has highlighted issues in Australia's aged care sector.
"You're very vulnerable when you're young and when you're very old.
"The way that the Government has handled this whole pandemic has really put the fear into seniors."
She said the elderly needed stability, routine and regular contact with their loved ones.
"All of that got taken away [during the pandemic]," Ms Stewart said.
"I've got so many friends that are just falling apart at home because quite a few are on Home Care Packages that just aren't meeting their needs."
The Aged Care Royal Commission's final report will be delivered by February 26.
